“I’m just helping because it seems like you’ll leave faster if we find the book.”
“Ah.”
Suhwan blinked at the boy’s response, which lacked any warmth.
But that didn’t change the fact that the boy was helping him. Suhwan smiled and said again:
“Thank you anyway.”
“…”
Once again, the boy merely glanced at Suhwan with an expressionless face. Despite the boy’s frosty attitude that would normally make one feel embarrassed, Suhwan just followed him with a bright face.
“Oh? Here.”
Then he discovered a place that looked strangely familiar. There, he found a math book buried in a pile of dust. Suhwan picked up the dusty book with a face full of relief.
“Is it yours?”
“Yes!”
Suhwan nodded vigorously at the boy’s confirming question. From the initials-only name to the notes inside, everything matched.
Thank goodness. Watching Suhwan exhale in relief, the boy coldly said:
“Then get out quickly.”
“…”
The boy seemed desperate to chase Suhwan away. What was he trying to do alone in this terrifyingly eerie place?
This abandoned old school building was once a hideout for bullies. That’s why until recently, security guards and teachers had been patrolling intensely. These days, it wasn’t as strict, but security guards occasionally took turns patrolling. However, during the time between when students left after school and before evening self-study began, no one came around. And now was exactly that time.
The boy seemed to be spending time alone here during such gaps. Glancing at the boy who somehow gave off a mysterious feeling, Suhwan nodded.
“Yes, really thank you for your help.”
“…”
“By the way, what’s your name?”
Judging by the same colored tie, they were certainly in the same grade, but unlike Suhwan who always wore his name badge, the boy had removed his. So he had no choice but to ask directly.
The boy turned his head and looked at Suhwan. Suhwan was merely curious about the name of the boy who had the same initials as him, but for some reason, there was a sharp light flowing in the boy’s eyes.
“You don’t know who I am?”
“What?”
What’s this? Was he famous at school?
Suhwan was a bit… no, extremely oblivious to his surroundings. And having transferred at an awkward time, he knew even less about school matters.
But indeed, the boy’s face was pretty enough to be a celebrity at school. Feeling conscious due to the boy’s cold atmosphere, Suhwan replied:
“Well, I transferred recently, so I don’t know much.”
“…!”
The boy’s brown eyes widened slightly. Looking surprised, he then lowered his gaze and bit his lip.
…What is this? Did I just make a huge mistake? For not recognizing a famous person at school, would I be terribly bullied starting tomorrow? Suhwan trembled in fear, imagining scenarios commonly seen in teen dramas.
“Seunghyun. Lee Seunghyun.”
“…What?”
“My name.”
The boy who spoke in a blunt tone glanced at Suhwan. Then he immediately turned his head and walked forward.
Seunghyun. Lee Seunghyun.
Muttering the boy’s name to himself, Suhwan hurriedly followed behind him.
***
Suhwan stayed up all night doing his math homework. The amount was too much to complete in one night, but after desperately solving problems, he was finally able to finish. The next day after class, during break time, he collapsed on his desk completely exhausted.
“Suhwan, are you dead?”
“Is he dead?”
“Seems like it.”
“Ugh.”
Several male students slowly approached Suhwan, who was slumped over his desk. They were the culprits who had worn him out. Raising his head, Suhwan glared at his friends with resentful eyes.
“Hey, we said we’re sorry. Here’s chocolate, our Suhwanie’s favorite.”
“We’ve got jelly too.”
“How about some candy?”
These were the same friends who had lured him to the old school building at night despite his reluctance, then fled faster than anyone else when they got scared. They even ignored Suhwan when he went back to find his textbook.
Though he was truly resentful, the snacks weren’t at fault. Suhwan pouted his lips and gradually accepted the snacks his friends offered.
“Oh, by the way.”
“Hm?”
His friends, who were busily placing snacks and jellies into Suhwan’s mouth, tilted their heads. Looking curiously at Suhwan’s cheeks, which were puffed out like a hamster’s, they asked back.
“What is it?”
“Um… well.”
Swallowing the chocolate snack in his mouth, Suhwan finally opened his mouth again to ask.
“Do you guys know someone called Seunghyun? Lee Seunghyun.”
“Lee… Seunghyun?”
Upon hearing Seunghyun’s name, his friends’ faces stiffened. Why was the atmosphere suddenly like this? Suhwan felt slightly awkward at his friends’ reactions.
Was it like that after all? A famous person whose name shouldn’t even be mentioned?
Seeing his friends reluctant to speak for some reason, Suhwan nervously swallowed.
‘Have I been marked by him?’
Perhaps his peaceful school life was already over. Suhwan imagined himself surrounded by school bullies, being tormented. Of course, since he hadn’t experienced it directly yet, these scenes were only from dramas and webtoons he’d seen.
The boy he had seen in the old school building didn’t seem like that kind of person… but still, you can never judge someone just by their appearance.
“You guys… will still be my friends, right?”
“What are you talking about?”
His friends looked puzzled at Suhwan’s sudden question. Then one of the boys cautiously spoke up.
“Lee Seunghyun… you mean that guy? From Class 3…”
“Hey, hey.”
For some reason, there was an uncomfortable atmosphere among his friends. Unable to understand why, Suhwan continued to tilt his head.
“What?”
“Well, you see.”
In front of the confused Suhwan, his friends exchanged glances for a moment.
It might be an unsavory rumor, but since it was already circulating openly, there would be no problem if Suhwan knew. Besides, he had just transferred and didn’t know much about the rumors going around school. After hesitating, one of the boys shrugged and opened his mouth.
“He used to go to Jamun Middle School.”
“Jamun Middle School?”
“Yeah, that prestigious middle school.”
“Ah.”
I heard students there are really good at studying. So he’s not just pretty but smart too. He seems to have everything. I’m jealous. Suhwan inwardly expressed his admiration.
“But why did he come here? Instead of going to a specialized high school from there.”
“Well.”
His friends exchanged glances again at Suhwan’s question. What on earth made them act like this? Finally, the friend who had first spoken up continued.
“It was in third year, I think, when a math teacher at Jamun Middle tried to sexually harass him and got caught. I heard the teacher was fired because of that.”
“What?”
“And there were also rumors that he… did something for the math teacher and found out exam questions… Since his math scores were top at Jamun Middle.”
“…!”
Suhwan’s eyes widened at the whispered words.
“Is that really true?”
“Well, it’s just a rumor. But a teacher was actually fired, and he stopped coming to school regularly after that.”
“And he’s too… pretty for a guy.”
“There must have been many people who bothered Lee Seunghyun, not just the math teacher?”
Author: Hyacinthus B
Hyacinthus
